Art & the Christian Message > Matthias Stom

 

The evangelists St. Mark and St. Luke ~ Matthias Stom

Christ before Caiaphas ~ Matthias Stom

Supper at Emmaus ~ Matthias Stom

Saul and the Witch of Endor ~ Matthias Stom

GC 5 – Inside Out Living

This challenge has not been good for the selfish, not God honoring part of me. I am literrally being so challenged and worked upon by the Spirit of God that I am almost too ashamed to speak or write my thoughts at times.

Today really was the pinnacle so far of being challenged. I say that because I came face to face ith my own hypocrisy. I began the sermon on the Mount and realized that when Jesus spoke to or about the Pharisees, a lot of times He could have been speaking to or about me.

I really studied chapter 5 today and was caught by 6 instances when jesus took what the Pharisees had said about God and then corrected it by essentially saying “but, I say”. This is not a good section for you if you don’t wish to change and repent of selfish living. Let me show you what I found:

Jesus shows the human tendecy toward things and how we act so utterly different then how God wants us to. He also challenges us to see that our sins are more than external issues and appearances, they result from a damaged and sinful heart. A heart that is wicked and spiteful toward God. It is only through believing in Christ and willingly let Him be your Lord that true change happens. Look at the chart below. It shows how the outward manifestation of a sin is usually caused by the inward expression of one. in response, jesus offers us the remedy for our sickness and sins.

OUTWARD	INWARD	REMEDY
Murder	Hate	Reconciliation
Adultery	Lust	Guard your thoughts
Divorce	Unfaithfulness	Act faithfully
Deceit	Liar	Be a person of character
Revenge	Anger	Selflessness
Prejudice	Hurt	Servanthood

Application point for this section: Are you a Pharisee? do you look righteous on the outside but are a heap of sin inside? Have you really repented and given your life COMPLETELY to Christ? Living the Christ centered life is never easy. It calls for commitment and focus. But, this life is truly transformational and reforming.

KTG

GC 4 – 2 Tempatations, 2 results

Matthew 4 is pretty interesting stuff. I say that not only because is it full of spiritual warfare between Christ and Satan, but also because it mimics the fall of Adam and Eve. Let me explain…

In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve have been placed in the garden of Eden to tend and care for it. They are in perfect harmony with the spirit of God. They are essentially isolated from the world and are there to completely focus on God and their relationship with Him. Now look at Matthew 4. Jesus is led out into the wilderness by Himself. He is alone with the Spirit of God. His isolation is a chance to commune more deeply with God, to focus on Him completely away from the outside world.

Now in both accounts, something happens. This is the hinge of both of the accounts; because the stories though similar, diverge drastically in their outcomes.  The hinge point is the entrance of Satan into each account.

Look at how Satan attacks both Adam and Eve and Jesus. They are the same. First he attacks their physical wants, namely through food. Adam and Eve with the fruit of the tree of knowledge and Jesus by telling Him to turn the stones to bread, since He is hungry after an extended fast. Second, Satan attacks their faith or trust in God. To Adam and Eve, Satan tells them God is keeping them from being all they could be. With Jesus, he tells Him to throw Himself off a cliff and surely God will save Him, right? I imagine a sarcastic little smile from Satan at this point. Third, when all else fails, Satan tries to seal the deal by attacking the one motivating factor of all humans, their ego. Satan assures Adam and Eve that they are missing out and that by eating the fruit, they will become great like God and be His equal. Satan uses the same tactic on Christ as he wisks Him up to overlook all the kingdoms of the world and says that Christ could have them all if He would just do as Satan says.

So, the similarities in attack are the same. Physical, spiritual and finally positional. But it is at the end of the accounts where the stories take different paths.

Adam and Eve, as we all know, fall completely and horribly. They succumb to Satan and his tricks and we are feeling the effects of their decision at this very moment. Christ though, redeems us. Where man fell, Christ rose. Where Adam sinned, Christ proved righteousness. Where Adam brought death, Christ brought life.

Application point for today: Spiritual warfare is real, even in the life of Christ. Victory over the enemy is not through our hands, but Christ’s. So, are you trying to conquer Satan and his schemes in your own power or by the power of Christ?

KTG

FamilyWise moment – Devotions

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

The Scripture is pretty clear on the fact that we have a responsibility to be training our children in the truth. Christian fathers in particular have a responsibility to be leading and training their families in the Revelation of God.

Many men struggle in the area of family devotions. It is kind of like evangelism, we know we have to do it but it is the doing it that is the problem.

Because I have echoed the Scriptures command for you and me to act like men and because some folks have requested that I talk about it, this is a quick guide to doing family devotions.

What follows is not an exhaustive how-to manual but rather some things that we do in trying to “teach them diligently” (Duet. 6.4) as God has commanded. Most of these things are things that we do, I am not saying that everyone has to do them, but rather supply suggestions in effort to be helpful.

-1- Be in the Word yourself

If you are going to teach your family to love the Word of God you better love the Word of God yourself. God’s design in commanding men to lead their families in the truth is to be preserving faithfulness throughout generations not modeling self-dependence and hypocrisy.

If you have not gone to the well of truth to draw fresh water from heaven than do not pretend to have something to say to your family. Instead, retire to a place where you can open up the Bible and drink from the fountain of grace that you might be fueled to speak of how impressed you are with Christ. You must know the Jesus you speak of, and not just know him but love him; this love is birthed by divine grace through the word of God and sustained by the same means.

-2- Choosing a Topic

In our family we usually go through books or sections of books of the Bible. We have been most recently going through Mark’s gospel, but I felt the need to work on teaching my family to pray more biblically, so we have been working on the Lord’s prayer in Matt. 6.

I have found that narratives are great for our family due to their ages. This also forces me to continually explain the context and themes of the book. I am learning too!!

You may have something that needs to be dealt with in your family. Family devotions are a great place to do this. Study as the leader and communicate what the Bible says and apply it to specific circumstances.

-3- Open the Bible

This is always a good thing! When you as the leader open the Bible you show your submission to what God says and you are modeling faithfulness to the Word. You may have the text memorized, it doesn’t matter, open the book and read it. Show your family you love the Bible.

Your own handling of the Scriptures expresses your view of the Scripture. Is it authoritative? Then you must open it up, interact with it and submit to it as you endeavor to apply it.

-4- Have a set time

It is good to set a routine for when you will read together. We like to read in the evening after dinner or before bed. I have brought the Bible out to eat with us to read and talk while we wait for the food. This encourages your family not to fear man and shows them that their Dad/husband loves the Bible.

-5- Talk about the Word all the time

As a family we may not sit down every single night and do a devotion, however, there is not a day that goes by that I do not speak to my kids about God. I want to make sure that the climate in my home is Christ centered therefore everything is a sign to point to Jesus. With little children their discipline is within the context of the gospel, for we are not trying to teach morality but Christianity! Their framework for obedience must be a holy and righteous creator and an accountable humanity. The only way to have this work right is within the context of the gospel.

My wife is a great help here. She talks about the Bible all the time with our kids during the day and we talk about it at night. It is important to create a climate that supports the sufficiency of Scripture and our dependence upon God.

-6- Make it fun

Family devotions should not be like doing chores. We don’t want to be all cantankerous and mean hitting our kids with a 45 minute running commentary on the book. Instead I have found it helpful to use a lot of illustrations that apply to my children’s lives. I have used action figures to explain a narrative, made up rhymes about “Elijah who likes to play with fy-ahh!” And “Ehud was a tough dude” …kids remember stuff like this.

I have also found it helpful to pause a lot and ask question of individuals. My 11 year old son could sit and listen to a sermon but my 4 year old girl will listen for 4 minutes and then start day-dreaming about a pink Pegasus. I have to reel here in frequently and ask her a question. Sometimes it is as simple as, “What did Jesus say to the woman?” Other times I’ll make a statement like, “Jesus heals people to show that he is the King, he is God, and he has power” then I’ll ask Alaynah (4), “why does Jesus heal people?” It is good to keep asking questions.

-7- Make application

After teaching the passage to your own heart make specific applications to your family’s. You may ask them questions like, “What can we do tonight, tomorrow or this week to live this scripture out?” and then being sure to follow up on that.

The time you spend in the word will serve to be a great resource for instruction in the days and years ahead.

-8- Addressing your wife

Your wife is your helpmate but she is also your responsibility as the husband. You are to lead her and teach her as well (Eph. 5.25-29). Sometimes the tendency is to spend so much time on the kids that you forget about your wife. It is good to involve your wife by asking her questions. The kids get to see that Mom knows and loves the Word too.

One thing to consider is that simply being a leader is a huge edifying factor for your wife. During devotions your wife gets to see first hand that her husband is a man! It shows that you love God and your family.

Something else to consider: more than likely, your wife rarely gets to sit down during the day. So, to sit with the kids and rub their hair or scratch their back while you do a devotion has several effects: your wife gets to hear God’s word, to learn something, to get time to be with the kids, to rest and to see you lead. How edifying is that?

-9- Teaching Prayer

Devotions are a great time to teach prayer. You as the leader can model biblical prayer. However, this is not the only time. I try to pray whenever I feel compelled to. This may be driving or some odd time during the day. It is good to teach your kids dependence upon God throughout the day not just during “quiet time”.

This is also a great opportunity to teach. Sometimes one of our kids will get loose with an unbiblical prayer and I often stop them and instruct them biblically and help them to think and pray in a way that God has prescribed. What do you do if your 5 year old prays for Satan to be saved? This is a great time to make personal application based upon what God has prescribed. Our recent study in Matt. 6 has really helped this.

-10- Gospelize your family

Remember that the whole point in doing this is to point your family to Jesus. Therefore, it is right to continue to explain and apply the gospel. Talk about the gospel all the time. Remember that your kids are young, they have not been dwelling upon the gospel for years, they probably don’t understand it like you do and they need to hear it! For we learn in Romans that “faith comes by hearing and hearing from the word of Christ” (Rom. 10.17). So since the gospel “is the power of God for salvation” (Rom. 1.15) and we want our kids to be saved, then what should we be telling them?

-11- Remember that this is a command

God does not ask us to lead and teach our families, he commands it. This is a regal decree from the King of heaven to us as his followers and leaders of our families. Therefore we must be good stewards of our time, pouring into our kid’s hearts and lives the unsearchable riches of Christ.

If you are struggling with this discipline then resolve today to get started; and the best way to get started is to get started. Open up your Bible read it and apply it to your life. Go home tonight and tell your family that you want to read the Word of God to them. And then do it again tomorrow, praying that God would water his word.

(my thanks to Erik Raymond for this great and much needed post)

KTG

Spur-Gems

IT is by the grace of God that ungodly men are preserved from instant death. The sharp axe of justice would soon fell the barren tree if the interceding voice of Jesus did not cry, “Spare him yet a little.” Many sinners, when converted to God, have gratefully acknowledged that it was of the Lord’s mercy that they were not consumed. John Bunyan had three memorable escapes before his conversion, and mentions them in his “Grace Abounding” as illustrious instances of long-suffering mercy. Occasionally such deliverances are made the means of affecting the heart with tender emotions of love to God, and grief for having offended him. Should it not be so? Ought we not to account that the longsuffering of God is salvation? (2 Peter 3:15.) An officer during a battle was struck by a nearly spent ball near his waistcoat pocket, but he remained uninjured, for a piece of silver stopped the progress of the deadly missile. The coin was marked at the words DEI GRATIA (by the grace of God). This providential circumstance deeply impressed his mind, and led him to read a tract which a godly sister had given him when leaving home. God blessed the reading of the tract, and he became, through the rich grace of God, a believer in the Lord Jesus.

Reader, are you unsaved? Have you experienced any noteworthy deliverances? Then adore and admire the free grace of God, and pray that it may lead you to repentance! Are you enquiring for the way of life? Remember the words DEI GRATIA, and never forget that by grace we are saved. Grace always pre-supposes unworthiness in its object. The province of grace ceases where merit begins: what a cheering word is this to those of you who have no worth, no merit, no goodness whatever! Crimes are forgiven, and follies are cured by our Redeemer out of mere free favour. The word grace has the same meaning as our common term gratis: Wickliffe’s prayer was, “Lord save me gratis” No works can purchase or procure salvation, but the heavenly Father giveth freely, and upbraideth not.

Grace comes to us through faith in Jesus. Whosoever believeth on Him is not condemned. O, sinner, may God give thee grace to look to Jesus and live. Look now, for to-day is the accepted time!

C.H. Spurgeon

(from his “Sword and Trowel”)

GC 3 – Expectant Stones

(Sorry for the delay in this post)

Matthew literally jumps us forward 30 years into Christ’s life. Gone is the childhood, teenage and twenty something years of our Lord. We are thrust forward and when we land we are confronted with tension and awkwardness in the form of John the Baptist.

What made John so unique? Well, first of all he baptized others. See, self baptizing was common among Jews but being baptized by someone else was entirely news to the Jewish people.

A second aspect was his message.
Most Jews relied on their heritage to make them acceptable to God. They thought and believed that because they were “Abraham’s children” that they were granted automatic entrance into God’s kingdom. But John flipped this upside down and told them that the entrance requirement was repentance of sins, not ethnicity or heritage. That is why he is so angry with the Pharisees and Saduccees. They epitomized this teaching of acceptance by birth.

I love John’s response. God could raise up stones to worship Him if he wanted. In other words, you ain’t the cat’s meow like you thought you were!

You see John’s message had a two fold implication to it. First, soteriologically (or in regards to salvation) John said there must be a change of heart and mind: repentance. Second, he said eschatologically (or in regards to future events) this creates a sense of urgency and expectation. Here, he is calling out for repentance because the heavenly realm was about to touch the earthly realm in a very real and drastic way through the coming of the Messiah.

Application point for today: are we resting on what we can do or what God can do? It is scary to think we could be easily replaced by stones. Therefore, take heed of John and repent with the eager expectancy that the Messiah deserves.

KTG

Death and Taxes

The old saying is “the only two things that are certain are death and taxes”. While I am no expert in economics, taxes may some day be reworked or revamped. However, death is never going to be reworked or revamped. As long as people are born, people will die. (sorry for the depressing tone.)

Death is one of those words that evokes fear in most of us. I have yet to meet a person who does not have some sort of fear when the thought of death or topic of death is brought up. As a parent, one of my worst fears is to outlive my children and have to deal with the reality of their deaths. Yet, as sure as the next breath they take fills them with life, it also speeds them onto toward their last one that waits much farther (hopefully) down the road.

As I sit with my tax forms in front of me and face the fact that I have to do my taxes, I am glad that even though taxes are painful, death does not have to be. Christianity finds its most practical and enduring truth in its case for hope. We believers are a people and nation of hope. We hope in the resurrection, the triumph over death. We hope in the eternal perefection of our imperfect earthly bodies. We hope in embracing life through death. We are a paradoxical and foolish group of people. But, we are also the most profound and correct as well.

I would not cling so tightly to my faith if the hope of living eternally with my saviour and God were not a very real truth to me. Why should I cling to a maybe when I can grasp onto a firm footing in Christ?

I think many probably look at the book of Revelation and are scared worse than schoolgirls at a horror flick. They see Satan, war, the lake of fire and judgment, eternal separation from God and loved ones and yes, death. Yes, those are there but so is hope. Believers, regardless of their stance on the tribulation, will see hope spring forth and Christ stand up for them when the final lick of death turns toward them. You see that is why our hope must rest in Christ alone. All else is like chaff that will be blown away when the winds of death blow hard. But Christ, Christ is the cornerstone, the house built on rock and not even the cold winds of death are strong enough to remove one speck from the son of God.

So as you fumble through your taxes and weep over the certainty of them remaining for another year, rest in the hope that though all have been appointed to die, Christians have been appointed to live!

KTG

Heaven on Earth

As I have been reading through the Gospel of Matthew, I am struck with Matthew’s use of prophecy. I mean the first two chapters are saturated with the stuff. By verse 2:23, we have been given at least five examples of how Jesus has fulfilled an Old Testament prophecy or has caused one to be seen as it really should be.

Now, this may not seem amazing. I mean afterall, this is Jesus! But, the amazing thing here is that these five fulfillments all happen by the time Jesus is two! Not bad stats for a two year old.

But what really is the point of showing these prophecy and their fulfillments? Well, two fold I think. First, to show that Jesus is the Messiah. Only the Messiah could fulfill all the OT prophecies completely and totally. Second, I believe it is to show us where Heaven and Earth collide. In effect, prophecy is literally when Heaven finds residence on earth and is seen in flesh and blood. The very thought should send shivers up our spine and make out neck hairs (or for the hairy types, back hair) stand up.

Every time we see the words “prophecy fullfilled” we should feel God’s faithfulness and His unending graciousness toward us that He has kept His word.

KTG

On being an advocate…

Today I learned the importance of a parent being an advocate for their child. Ben is rambuctious, outgoing, talkative and seven through and through. However he is also loving, compassionate, funny in so many ways and carries a wit about him that can’t help but make me smile. (what can I say he’s a chip of the ole block!)

In a parent teacher conference we were told how all the wonderful things that make a seven year old boy seven were inherently evil and should be eradicated at a costs. Bens teacher informed us that though he is doing good he just is not doing the best he can. Even though he acts good, he could act better. Even though he listens, he needs to listen more. More, more, more…

As I sat and listened I felt two main emotions: disgust and sorrow. Here is why…grace was being attacked from all sides. This was the very opposite of what Heather and I are trying to teach our kids. We are raising them to be fervent in seeking God’s will but never are we implying it can be done by how much they do. I know what you are thinking, “but this is school, not church or your home”. That is true. But here is my response, Satan will try to gain a foothold in any way he can. Now I am not equating this teacher to be one of Satan’s minions but here message is certainly anti-Gospel.

My point is this, that we must always be ready to defend grace. It is attacked in every arena be it school, the home or the church. Who is our advocate? None other than the definition of grace, Jesus Christ. As His follower, I count it my priviledge to be an advocate for His name and message no matter what the situation or place.

May we all stand by and in grace alone.

Sola gratia,

KTG

GC 2 – Forgotten Joseph

Looking at Matthew 1:18-2:23 I am struck with the faith and courage of Joseph. Here is a young Israelite steeped in religious tradition who opts for faith, hope and love instead.

This is what I mean. You see Hebrew marriages were arranged for individuals by parents. After much negotiating and hard nosing, if an agreement was met than the 2 individuals were considered married. They were called husband and wife but did not immediately begin to live together. Instead, for one year the couple lived separately. The purpose of this time was to test the faithfulness and purity of the bride. If she became pregnant during this time, obviously she was unfaithful to her commitment and the marriage could be dissolved or the man could divorce her. If she was faithful for the year, then the husband would go and pick her up and almost have a grand processional back to their house and then the two would consumate their marrriage.

So, you can see the pickle Joseph is in. His wife, during the time of testing, is found to be pregnant. He is shocked and heartbroken. But imagine how much more shocked he is when the angel pronounces who the baby’s father is!

Joseph proves his character at this point and breaks tradition. He severs the customs and religious dogrell by opting for faithfulness to God and love to Mary. Rather than divorcing her, he brings her back to his house to begin their life together.

What he did took courage. His community, friends, family, everything told him to disown Mary. Life said “no”, but God said “yes”.

Application point for today: What is keeping us from being a person of character and commitment to Christ? Joseph certainly was and was forgotten. But maybe that is the point. Is our life more important than Christ’s? That is certainly a question of commitment.

Ktg